February 07, 2008

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Huck got a welcome boost tonight in the form of James Dobson's long-awaited endorsement.

The evangelical leader's decision to finally get off the sidelines -- first reported by AP -- will help the former Baptist preacher consolidate his support among fellow believers.

But it won't get him any closer to having a realistic chance to win next week in Maryland or Virginia.

First off, there are not enough conservative Christians among the ranks of Maryland Republicans. McCain already had a solid core of support there -- where he has a wide following among his fellow veterans and Annapolis grads -- and he effectively won the primary today when a) Mitt Romney dropped out and b) still-popular former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a top Rudy backer, threw his support to the Arizonan.

The Dobson endorsement and Huck's ability to appeal to born-agains will resonate more in the commonwealth, home to three iconic establishments in the pantheon of the religious right: Mike Farris's home-school haven, Patrick Henry College in Loudoun County, the late Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg and Pat Robertson's Regent University in Virginia Beach.

The good news for Huck is that he has the support of both Farris and Falwell's sons, Jerry and Jonathan, who've succeeded their father at the helm of his college and his church, Thomas Road Baptist (Robertson, who very publicly threw his support to Rudy late last year, has yet to come out for any other candidate).

The bad news for Huck is that the power of Christian conservatives is far less than it was when Farris won the GOP's nomination to run as lieutenant governor in 1993.

Northern Virginia and, to a lesser extent, the Tidewater region have seen explosive growth in the past 10 years, bringing hundreds of thousands new, moderate voters into the state from other parts of the country. As demonstrated in successive gubernatorial races and the 2006 Senate contest, these voters tend to vote more on kitchen table issues than hot button social matters.

Of course, their influence is much stronger in general elections which draw a heavier and more diverse turnout.

But Virginians don't register by party, so anybody lucky enough to live there can participate in Tuesday's contest.

Now, if Romney had soldiered on in the race he may have split enough of the vote with these "New Virginians" with McCain to have given Huck a fighting chance with his evangelical and rural base.

He likely still would have lost, but it would have been closer.

Which is exactly what happened in Missouri.

Huck was leading for much of the night, powered by strong margins in the southern part of the state, especially in the Christian conservative-dominated Springfield area just north of the Arkansas border. He was lagging badly in the early returns from St. Louis and Kansas City suburbs, but was benefitting there from Romney and McCain splitting the, shall we say, cosmopolitan vote.

Late in the night, however, Huck lost his lead for good to McCain when the state's to chief population areas reported their entire tally -- and decisively delivered for the two non-evangelicals in the race.

Now there is no Romney. And, what's worse for Huck, Virginia is like Missouri on steroids (no offense, Mark McGwire). The combined vote share of northern Virginia and Tidewater -- two-thirds of the state's "urban crescent "population core -- dominates state elections. Nobody can lose the two regions and still win.

And given McCain's strengths in two areas that are, in addition to being filled with transplants, also heavy with active-duty military and retirees, it's virtually impossible to see him losing either.

So, yes, Huck delivered impressive wins in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama on Tuesday. But there is a reason why he ran better in Alabama than he did the other two southern states. There is no hub for transients in 'Bama as there are in Georgia (Atlanta) and Tennessee (Nashville). And if you look at each state's returns, Huckabee fared the worst in the two capital cities. Toss in Huck's less-than-1,000 vote margin over McCain in Alabama's Jefferson County (Birmingham) -- the closest thing the state has to a cosmopolitan area -- and it becomes clear: He's got a problem with non-southerners and their native-born suburban neighbors in the South.

And as any native Virginian will tell you, there are plenty of non-Southerners in the commonwealth.

UPDATE: Jonathan Falwell emails in to say that, despite this NBC report from last year, he remains neutral in the GOP contest.

"While Mike is a dear friend and a good man, I have not yet endorsed any candidate," wrote Falwell.

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Yea, i am from birmingham...sorry mccain we couldnt deliver you our state...there are are alot of University of Alabama grads that voted for huckabee. Auburn however, was solidily behind you Senator : )

Huckaphoney needs to explain how a Pro-Life Baptist Minister and accept $52,000 from a Drug Company, which promotes Stem Cell research and Sells the Day After Contraception Pill. The Pot Calling The Kettle Black Perhaps. Oh, That's right Jesus already forgave him.

Great read, JMart! I'm really curious to know what Huck's angle is now. Maybe he's just biding his time and waiting for an excuse to drop out? I guess if he did it too soon it would look like he's just following Romney's lead, and I doubt his ego would want that. But whatever Huckster. By all means, keep soldiering on!

J-Mart, I know you have alot of free time on your hands but why do you continue to write about this clown Huckster???....He doen't stand a chance and in his warped mind he still is just trying to top Mitt Romney in delegates. The fact that everyone can see throught this charade should be enough for you to quit trying to insult our intelligence with your vapid posts.

Huckaphoney, Where's that $52,000.00 check you received from the Drug Company, who supports Stem Cell Research and sells the Day After Birth Control Pill? Oh, That's right you're Pro-Life, never mind Jesus will certainly forgive you.

Huckaschmuck can't drop out just yet. If he did it would be shamefully obvious that he was only in the race to do mcCains bidding. He has to play it cool for a while and pretend like he's still interested in the campaign. Look for him to just go through the motions. With every passing day and every crushing defeat we will all be reassured of his complete incompetence(as if we needed any reassurance).

Yes, Huck will probably lose Virginia. But heck, who would have thought he'd come within 8,000 votes of snagging Missouri? So anything close helps his legacy and his future when he takes on Romney again some day. Huck will not get out of the race until he has more delegates than Mitt and more popular votes than Mitt. He wants history to record him as the last man standing until Mac got the nod. This is wise for future runs.

What is wrong with Dobson? His endorsement of anyone at this point is just a wasted effort. He is trying now to have the best of both worlds. I am glad he endorsed Huck, but I consider him a crybaby conservative when he says he will not back Mac.

If we are lucky enough to have Mitt run again next primary, Huck won't stand a chance. I mean think about it...the man basically claims the endorsement of God - and then loses?! His credibility will be shot. What a Joke

As a Virgina resident, I think the concept that the state is now fertile ground for Democrats, moderates, liberals etc. is exaggerated. If recent elections indicate anything, it's a state that remains very socially conservative, but maybe slightly less conservative on economic issues (part of that is the need for infrastructure as a result of population growth). One of the key things that people seem to forget, however, is that George Allen was leading Jim Webb by 14 points before the "macaca" incident, and still only lost by a slim margin. Tim Kaine's governorship has been lackluster, to put it mildly. He's basically a non-entity or a joke to Virginians (check out his brilliant driver fee scheme if you want to get the picture). Democrats in VA had a "perfect storm" at their back in 2006. I think it is very likely you will see the Republicans rebound before long.
Contrary to the suggestion above, I suspect it will be close between McCain and Huckabee. If McCain wins it will be because of veterans and active duty military personnel. If Huckabee wins, it will be because of social conservatives.

Mitt Romney is a Class Act all the way. He also showed humility (virtue!) by bowing out to help the party unite now than later. That's the virtue Hickabilly is lacking. Let him be happy in his smallness of heart and mind.

Hey bigmo,
To be fair, Huck was really close to being right in that video clip. He was just confusing The Power of God with the power of church. It is true that it was the power of church that propelled Huck in Iowa. Maybe that's what he meant.

Trust me, Huck has been doing McCain's bidding for a while now. He will stay in just long enough to make it "appear" that he wasn't just McCain's lackey lap dog doing his master's bidding in maintaining a 2-on-1 front against Mitt. Now that Mitt has gracefully pulled out, Huck will quickly drop out after getting slaughtered in the next primary and will quietly wait to be named as McCain's VP. It will certainly come as a shock to him to learn that McCain was merely tugging his leash when McCain names Crist as his VP. I wonder what "God's candidate" will say or do then? (I would love to be a fly on the wall when that deal goes down, I'll tell ya!!!)

Feb. 8, 2008 - 5:33 AM EST
Why I LIKE MIKE HUCKABEE
Supports Israel
Man of Faith
Stood By His Wife During Spinal Cancer
Will Appoint Conservative, Pro-Life Judges
Against Judges Legislating from the Bench
Supports Pro Life
Supports Marriage Amendment
Supports Vertical Politics vs Left Against Right
Will Secure America?s Borders
Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist-Founder of Minutemen
Supports Building Border Fence
Opposes Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants
Wants to Provide a Path to Citizenship For Illegal Aliens
Supports the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Believes in Well Rounded Education
Set Up Tax-Free Savings Accounts For College Tuition
Took Arkansas Schools from below average to 8th in Nation-Quality Counts
Implemented Smart Start, Smart Step & Next Step In Schools
Significantly Raised School Test Scores
Believes in High Standards for Schools, Tough Tests, Strong Accountability
Promotes Financial Transparency
Promotes School and Teacher Accountability
Rewards Excellence in Teachers
Holds Parents and Students Accountable For Performance
Supports Homeschoolers
Author of 3 Inspirational Books - Co-authored 3 Books
Supports Fair Tax
Faced ALL His Duties as Governor-Including Carrying Out 16 Executions
HIS Constituents WANT HIM BACK
Wants Energy Independence
Wants Agricultural Independence
Wants Defense Independence
Wants to Put America to Work on Infrastructure
Welfare rolls Declined by Half
For Eminent Domain-Protection of Personal Property
Supports Castle Doctrine Law-A Man?s Home is his Castle
Public Official of the Year 2005-Governings
One of Nations Best Governors-Time Magazine
Dist Public Health Legislator of the Year-Amer Public Health Assoc
AARP Impact Award-2006
Honoree-Government Technology Magazine
Leader of Leaders-Chairman of National Governors Assoc
Uninsured Children fell from 18% Down to 9%-Time Magazine
Wants to Promote Health Care vs Disease Care
Established Tax Free Savings Accounts For Medical Care
Has Personal Discipline to Loose 110 lbs and Trains to Run Marathons
Can Rise to Emergency Situations-Op K.A.R.E-75,000 Katrina Victims-WSJ
Good Financial Steward
AR Rds from ?Worst Roads-1999? to ?Most Improved-2004?- Overdrive Mag
Revenue Stabilization Law-Prevents Deficit Spending
Took $200 Million Dollar Deficit to $850 Million Dollar Surplus
REPEALED a Tax When No Longer Needed-Short Term Save After Sept 11th
Balanced His State?s Budget 5 Times
During 10 Years as Gov, AR Taxes Rose ? as Much as Other States Rose
Got Voter Approval For 1/8 Cent Tax Increase For Parks and Recreation
Friend of the Taxpayer-Americans for Tax Reform
Signed Presidential Taxpayer Pledge
Eliminated Capital Gains Tax for Sale of a Home
Lowered Capital Gains Rate
Expanded the Homestead Exemption
Indexed Income Tax to Inflation to Prevent Move to Higher Tax Brackets
Supports Making Bush Tax Cuts Permanent
Doubled the Child Care Credit
Doubled the Standard Deduction
Eliminated Marriage Penalty
Supports Limiting Earmarks
Wields a Tough Veto Pen
Helped Nursing Homes
Champions Families and Traditional Marriage
Reaffirmed Marriage Vows
Has Been Married to the Same Woman For 34 Years
Sold His Guitar Collection to Buy His Young Wife a Washer and Dryer
Nursed His Wife Himself
Helps His Wife Up Steps Instead of Running on Ahead-Pres Campaign
Against Racism
Against Centralized Power
Against Gun Control
Lifetime member of the NRA, member for over 15 years
First Governor to have concealed-carry permit
Removed restrictions on carry permit holders
Protected gun manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits
Opposes reauthorization of the Assault Weapon Ban
Opposes expansion of the unconstitutional ?Brady Bill?
Opposes waiting period for purchase of firearms
Opposes background checks on private firearms transactions at gun shows
An avid hunter and conservationist, and a member of the Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and BASS.
Won?t Pull Our Troops Without Honorable End
Supports Veterans Bill of Rights
Supports Veterans Health Care
Supports Spelling Out Veterans Rights and Then Giving Them to Veterans
Supports Processing Veterans Claims Within 6 Months
Supports Fullest Accounting by Government Relative to POW/MIA Status
Supports Giving Same Rights to National Guard and Reserves
Supports Giving Vets Military Returement and VA Compensation
Endorsed by Calif Rep Duncan Hunter, Now a Senior Advisor-Huckabee Campaign
The Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act (1997 Act 984)
The Fetal Protection Act (1999 Act 1273)
VOTE ONLY FOR MIKE HUCKABEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUCK/McCAIN '08-'16 OR McCAIN/HUCK '08-'16 and HUCK/GEN P '16-'24

The analysis in this post is flawed. The underlying assumption is that all Romney voters prefer McCain as their second choice. This is the opposite of the argument that was made one week ago: that Huckabee was stealing votes away from Romney, as if they shared the same base of support. So why wouldn't Romney voters (i.e., social conservatives) go to Huckabee? You'd think if they were for McCain they would've backed him long ago. I predict MD goes to McCain and Virginia (my state) goes to Huckabee. I live in the populus eastern part of the state and know no one who favors McCain but plenty of people who are excited about Governor Huckabee.

They said Rudy Guiliani would be the nominee. Huck kept working. Now Rudy's gone. They said Fred Thompson would be the nominee. Huck kept working. Now Fred's gone. They said Mitt Romney would be the nominee. Huck kept working. Now Mitt's gone. They said John McCain would be the nominee......

Reverend Ike Dukakis Huckabee is a bigot who has released murderers who have murdered again. The hucklberry from hope is a tax raising, squirrel eating, dumb joke telling, inbred liberal, bible totin goober. The democrats will rightfully paint him as Taliban lite. This clown is an embarrassment, and will chase independents and moderate republicans from McCain's train in a NY minute!

I just wanted to thank the people of Iowa for giving Conservatives John McCain. Way to think it through Iowa! If you had done your job we would have Mitt Romney as our candidate. I am now and forever will be a Romney Republican. ROMNEY 2012.

Next Wednesday I am sure Huck will bow out. He probably did not expect Romney to do so this early on (I certainly didn't) and was caught off guard. He will give a similar speech to Romney, but I doubt it will ring quite as true now that Mitt beat him to it. :) -Ben

Romney supporters vote for you, Huckaphoney. Stuff It, you Anti- Mormon. FYI, 1998 was quite a year for the Baptist Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Thanks for you and all the conference members for visiting our neighborhoods, knocking on our doors, asking us to come unto Jesus or you Mormons would go to hell.
Funny how you answered that question of the New York Times Reporter, when asked about Mormonism, you replied, "Don't they believe Jesus and Satan are brothers"? Nice try, why were in Salt Lake City preaching to Mormons about going to hell if you didn't already know our church doctrine? You and all your Social Conservative followers are a bunch of Religious Bigots.
It will be a great day if McCain takes you as his running mate and loses the election. You and McCain will be held accountable for the loss and your political career will finally be over. Especially when the Liberal Judges will be placed on the Supreme Court and ruin the chances to overturn Roe Vs Wade.
If by fate McCain wins and takes you as his running mate, you Huckaphoney will show your true colors, support the Liberal McCain agenda, slapping the faces of all Conservatives. They will remember your betrayal and hold you accountable and your political career will still come to an end.
Don?t forget there are still many states having primaries and they won?t be voting for you, Huckaphoney they?ll still vote for Mitt Romney, The True Conservative. Oh, by the way who has more delegates? Oh, that?s right, Mitt Romney!!!!! Take that you Jerk.

I hate to see the press continue to tell what the negative things of Mr. Huckabee is. The Southern Angelic voters are not a disease, but the backbone of the future of America. Our states are growing with new industries leaving the Northern states due to the lack of dedication and commitment of Christian orientated people. We have ethics. If you look at Steel, automotive and other High Tech industries we continue to acquire them due to the Quality of people and Christian values. Maybe instead of thinking of us as a minority, the Country should see what it is which makes us strong and vibrant. I know one thing we are all doing in these states which is Praying for all of you who lack the desire to let God direct our Country. I support Mr. Huckabee and George Bush. God Bless America.

I find it interesting that "Brian"
has such hatred because Huckabee and the Southern Baptists went to Salt Lake City and held a convention there - bringing millions into the economy - and they did what Mormons do everyday.
They went out knocking on doors and presented the Gospel. There is nothing wrong with that.
Huckabee is not running for VP he is running for President. Doee he have an easy road ahead of him?
The answer to that is no, but not an impossible one.
According to Karl Rove Huckabee has to win 83% of the reamining delegates, a difficult but not impossible task.
It comes down to this, Do you VOTER, do you want John McCain for President?
If the answer to that is NO, support Mike Huckabee.
Lets give the voters a chance to have thier say, not the pundits.

Steve--Go back and read what you have posted about Gov. Romney and then go back and read what Huckabee has said about Gov. Romney throughout this campaign and you will become aware of why most Romney supporters cannot vote for Huckabee. Not for '08, not for '12, and not for '16.

Like one pundit wrote, Romney supporters and Huckabee supporters are like oil and water.

Some percentage of Huckabee supporters, like you, can never vote for a Mormon, and most Romney supporters can never vote for Huckabee (Note that I didn't say could never vote for an Evangelical. Huckabee's problem is not his religion. It's his exploitation of it.)

Michael Maylen--Your analysis would be correct except that you left out some major points.

Although I have no connections to Utah, I am familiar with what the Southern Baptist Convention distributes as "information about Mormons."As I have said here many times, I don't mind at all if you disagree with what I REALLY believe, but when you attack me for what I don't believe and tell me that you know more about my religion than I do and than add that I am at best deceived by the Devil and at worst an active soldier in his army then that tends to be a little offensive to someone who has dedicated their life to opposing Satan and promoting Christ.

As for the Mormon's doing the same thing, except for allowing for the existence of a few misguided souls, Mormons do not go around tearing down other religions and it is most certainly not official Church policy to do so.We believe in freely offering the teachings of Christ for people to add to the truths and goodness they already have and in following Christ's admonition to love and do good to others, even your enemies, and to be peacemakers.

Anyone read the piece on McCain? Funny how all of a sudden the media is pointing out his lack of experience in the economy and his flip flops on a variety of issues. Where were they two weeks ago? Very convenient to ignore McCain's faults until AFTER Romney drops out.

I just wanted to thank the people of Iowa for giving Conservatives John McCain. Way to think it through Iowa! If you had done your job we would have Mitt Romney as our candidate. I am now and forever will be a Romney Republican. ROMNEY 2012.

All of you bigots who think Huckabee's only support comes from "evangelicals" are going to be surprised when Huckabee takes the next six primaries. Most conservative Republicans will not support McCain. McCain has yet to win a majority of the conservative vote in any primary. Without Romney there to siphon off part of the conservative vote, Huckabee will trounce McCain.

Bill Kristol, Weekly Standard, just commented that "conservatives will rally around McCain". If true, big trouble for Clinton/Obama. "McCain will have enough support to get 51% of the vote" in November. I agree.

Virginia is going to surprise you, so will Maryland. There are plenty of social conservatives in both states. Huckabee will continue to surprise.
The anti-Christian slurs and bigotry that have been exposed on these posts is amazing to me. Don't people have anything better to do? About the mormons and Romney, why hasn't anyone tried to explain the 91% vote that Romney got in Utah? That is the most obvious evidence that Mormonism is a cult, promoting group think only. Whatever else you say about the Christians, evangelicals, Catholic, etc., they think for themselves, and vote accordingly. The attempt to portray Christians as uneducated hicks is old and tiresome.

Huckabee supporters--Romney got out of the race because he realized the greater good in doing so.

Most other Romney supporters I have talked to feel the same way about his decision.

We would rather exercise our influence on McCain knowing there is more hope there than with Hillary or Obama.

Huckabee just isn't an option. He'll probably continue getting a similar level of support unless his supporters also start seeing the greater good, but most of Romney's support will go to McCain or nobody. I predict Huckabee won't even get a bounce from it. It will probably actually hurt him as people realize the primary is over and Huckabee's role as "Romney antagonist" is over.

I know no one who favors McCain but plenty of people who are excited about Governor Huckabee.

Steve, please don't say things like this. If you know no one that disagrees with you, then something is terribly wrong. You had better go back to your bubble because you aren't going to be able to function out here.

C'mon Martin, I thought you were smarter than this. I don't know how you got this job. McCain needs christian republicans to vote for him more than Huck needs liberals in maryland and virginia to vote for him. Get it through to your brain: A republican who cannot carry the south or christian conservatives CANNOT WIN IN NOVEMBER. Huckabee is simply proving that to you "experts."

Regarding Romney's strong showing in Utah, if you go back and look at the data you will learn it is the most conservative state in the Union.The Dems don't even campaign there for the General election.Huge wins by Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43. It was the only state in the Union where Perot actually did better than Clinton (but way behind Bush) in '92.

I suspect Romney did well in Utah because they didn't have any hang ups with his religion or the "flip-flop" propaganda.

Michael, I think you make a good point about Huckabee going to Salt Lake is not that much different than Mormon missionaries going all over the world. However, I don't think that trip to Salt Lake became a big issue until Huckabee's Jesus/Satan comment (today's WSJ front page has a good analysis of this whole issue). I think what upset most Mormons was Huckabee playing dumb about Mormon religion, even though it was clear he knew plenty about the LDS church, and knew what he was doing when he made the comment. Many (and I am by no means saying a majority or anything close to that) Evangical ministers told their congregations that a vote for Romney was a vote for Satan. It is a tough hill for him to climb when people are saying that. It has been a rude wakeup call for me, seeing that many do not get what Mormons are all about or how deeply they believe in Christ's divinity. That said, there are millions who were able to overlook the issue and judge Romney as a politician not a minister, so it is not all sour grapes.

Correction, Seattle. Romney got out of the race for one reason: Huckabee's surprise showing on Tuesday. He read the tea leaves. Don't kid yourself into thinking that Romney got out "for the good of the country." That makes no sense. Why didn't he get out last week then? How is genuflecting to McCain when there were four people in the race good for the country? I personally think the country will be best served by all of us voting for conservative principles. And Huckabee, though far from perfect, espouses those more than McCain.

By not pulling out like Romney did, Huckabee has actually now done McCain a bigger favor than when he pulled votes away from Mitt. By staying in, Huckabee has given McCain a valid reason to look elsewhere for a VP. McCain was going to do this anyway, but now it won't seem like a kick in the teeth. Huck did a good job earlier, but now he just looks desperate and flailing. Romney probably doesn't want VP, but McCain should offer him Secretary of Commerce or make him RNC Chairman and see if he bites. This perceived "rift" in the GOP will be patched up in no time and we can focus on beating the socialists in November.

ML Day: I'm going to have to call BS on you. You say that the fact that mormons vote in a monolithic manner proves that they dont think for themselves?

That may be all well and good, except for the fact that the leaders of the mormon church will not comment on polotics period! How do we blindly follow when we're not told what to do?

In contrast, it is clear that a large number of baptists in Iowa and other places were told by their preacher to vote in a certain way...and they all blindly followed. Who is acting cult-like?

Further, UT always votes in large numbers for one person. In fact, Bush's approval rating in UT is still tremendously high. Isn't it funny though to see how willing mormons are to vote for evangelicals? They always have. It is because values matter. The behavoir is not mirrored because of a cult-like knee jerk hatred reaction. Funny.

And a note to the normal evan's...we realize there are many instances of a few giving the wrong impression about the many. We hope you realize that about us too.

Come on Steve, it was McCain that did the damage to Romney on Feb. 5. It was McCain swinging his votes to Huckabee in WV that took that state away from Romney. It was the crushing loss to McCain in California that really did it.Huckabee won where he was expected to except for Missouri.

I know you hate Romney and believe he is incapable of anything good, but many of his supporters wanted him to take the battle all the way to the convention if possible even if McCain still won in the end.But that wouldn't be the best for the Republican party or the country. I say that as someone with whom McCain lost many, many points during the course of the election.

I love how some think Mormons are bigoted because they don't like Mike Huckabee (every Mormon I know who follows politics thinks he is slimeball). This despite the fact that Mormons overwhelmingly supported Bush in 00 and 04. The difference is Bush has a strong respect for the LDS church. I am sure he disagrees deeply with many doctrines, but he knows Christian living when he sees it. Huckabee is blind in this respect.

Huckster, you're safe to drop out this afternoon. 24 hours should be enough for you to claim that you didn't stick it out this long simply for spoiler purposes. The funny thing is, McCain wouldn't touch a comical lightweight like you for Veep. He'll be sticking the shiv in your back any day now.

I'd like to point out, though probably no one noticed, that "Tim Kaine's driver fee scheme" mentioned in AJ0909's post was actually created by two Republican state representatives from Northern Virginia.
Classic short-circuit thinking by the Neanderthals that were the original settlers of this state.

Steve - Do you realize that Huckabee would have to win 83% of the remaining delegates in order to win and that he is polling at 17%. Even if he won every single remaining state which he won't he would still lose because most of the remaining states are proportional not winner take all.
Huckabee is about a centimeter deep on foreign policy, a populist on fiscal policy, soft on criminals, ethically challenged, goober. The problem with using religion as a weapon is that it motivates people like yourself and repulses the rest of the country. It would be the ultimate liability in the General Election.

See Jonathan,
This is what I was talking about yesterday regarding your biased writing. Notice how you refer to plenty of "non-Southerners" living in Virginia. What exactly is a "non-Southerner?" Are you indicating that just because someone wasn't born in Virginia, they are not a Virginian or not a Southerner? Domicile can be changed by moving to a location with an intent to live there. But, according to you, Virginians are not true Virginians or true Southerners unless they were born and raised there. Similarly, you refer to Atlanta and Nashville as "transient" cities, seemingly implying that these are also cities filled with "non-Southerners." Transient is a word filled with negative conotations. Your bias against people not born in the South comes shining through in your article, bias, and has also come shining through in your coverage of the campaign so far. You wouldn't like it if you moved to New York and were labeled a "non-Northerner" would you? Or if you moved out West and were labeled a "non-Westerner?" Maybe you should try to be less biased and more objective in your writing. And, no, Huck would not make a good VP candidate. The guy has demonstrated that he is a religious bigot and does not deserve to be on the ticket with McCain.

This is easy math, people. About half of the Huck supporters had Romney as their second choice. About 1/4 had/have McCain. And about 1/4 will stick with the Huckster based on religious bigotry or identity alone. I am saddened as a Christian that this is true, as I think the latter factor will be the "but for" cause of a liberal president, liberal judges, liberal policies, and greater social decay for years to come. You played right into the MSM's hands like sheep. Almost no Romney supporters had/have the Huckster as even a possibility because he is a moron (which is far worse than being a mormon), because he is a fiscal and defense liberal, and because he deceptively used religion to siphon votes. 75% of Romney supporters will go to McCain. 10% are still deciding if they even vote this go round. And 15% will go to the Huckster. Watching Romney's speech at CPAC, I am ashamed we didn't unite behind that guy sooner. But, as I have said before many times, as long as McCain doesn't choose Huckabee as his VP (or someone similar thereto) I will pull the lever against Obama/Hillary.

To wit ------- Romney's exit a big boost to McCain, Huckabee in Texas
IVR Polls did a quick survey of Republican voters in the wake of Mitt Romney's exit from the race. This came in from pollster Ralph Bordie overnight:
McCain 43
Huckabee 33
Paul 9
Keyes 3
Undecided 13
510 polled 2/7/08 Margin of error 4.3%
Ralph's take on the survey:
Did a quick poll tonight to see how Mitt Romney's exit from the GOP primary would change things in Texas.
Last week, Romney was just ahead of John McCain, 30 to 29, with Mike Huckabee following at 20. Ron Paul and Alan Keyes were in single digits. Huckabee did best among voters under 40, while McCain did best with voters over 60. Romney's support was fairly even through the different ages.
This week, Huckabee has a small lead among the <40 and 40-59 age groups, while McCain has a large lead in the 60+ age group. McCain has fairly even support between men and women in each age group, but Huckabee does better among women in the younger groups. If Huckabee could attract the portion of the <60 male vote that is going to Paul and Keyes, he would be competitive with McCain. I have no reason to expect that they will shift, just noting the gender gap in the <60 'not McCain' vote.